We take the Model S' autonomous driving tech to Australia's most famous stretch of tarmac.

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Tesla Model S P90D review

It has been the site of historic rallies, reconciliation marches, countless New Year's Eve celebrations and even a personal tyre-shredding pad for Aussie driver Mark Webber in his Formula One car.

But to most Aussies the Sydney Harbour Bridge is just a regular link from the centre of the city to the north, which is exactly the purpose of our breakthrough exercise: driving across the steel-braced masterpiece… without actually driving.

Armed with the latest software update, Tesla's Model S is now capable of changing lanes autonomously with only a simple tap of the indicator stalk. It can keep up or slow down with surrounding traffic, partially offsetting the need for braking or accelerating, and can even hold its position in a lane, in what is essentially the closest thing in Australia yet to a driverless car.

The new technology, dubbed the Version 7.0 update, was developed by Tesla's brains trust in the US, from where owners who opted for an optional $3600 Autopilot pack upon purchasing their vehicle can download the latest software over-the-air like they would the latest smartphone update.

The system is said to work on the sprawling freeways around Silicon Valley, but what about over Australia's most recognisable landmark during the lunchtime rush hour?

The test, like almost anything considered remotely risky nowadays, begins with a disclaimer. Upon activating the lane changing function, a digital form appears on the vehicle's 17-inch colour touchscreen asking the driver to acknowledge that driving autonomously can be dangerous. Tesla is not legally bound, is the main gist.

After ridding Elon Musk and co. of responsibility, we engage the relevant steering column-mounted stalk so that a blue steering wheel icon appears in the digital instrument cluster. The Tesla, to some degree, is now driving itself. Using a combination of the forward camera to keep tabs on the vehicle in front, 360-degree sensors to retain an invisible buffer from surrounding objects and radar to maintain a safe position within the lane, the circa 2100kg electric pièce de résistance is independently controlling interactions with other road users.

The groundbreaking Tesla Model S.

As it turns out, allowing a car to drive itself, even in Sydney's busy lunchtime grind, is a relative non-event. We drive autonomously past the toll gates of the southern side of the bridge, past the pylons and under the magnificent metal structure – unbeknown to the hundreds of other road users around us.

The Model S positions itself nicely in the lane, maintains a safe gap between other vehicles and constantly monitors the surroundings in a way which cultivates trust. The only exception is its slowness to react to kerbs or gutters (we weren't willing to find out how long it took).

In fact, if not for road laws which mandate the driver keeps a hand on the wheel at all times, one could easily leave the car to its own devices in scenarios where it is safe to do so. The legal framework in Australia still insists that the driver should be in control of the vehicle. Should being the operative word...

We continue to play with the system, checking the road around us before pushing the indicator stalk to its bottom-side stop. The car then intuitively picks an adequate gap in traffic in the left-hand lane and then slots sweetly into place, even turning a corner at the same time. Incredible stuff.

Every time the car attaches itself to the vehicle in front (for mere reference), the action is shown correspondingly in the instrument cluster, while objects which appear alongside the vehicle are also displayed to convey its reading of the surroundings.

The semi-autonomous function can be cancelled by either engaging the brakes (the same way you would de-activate cruise control) or by tugging meaningfully on the steering wheel.

Tesla is set to make its mark in Australia - but electric cars may not be its biggest product. Photo: Supplied.

The almost-but-not-quite-autonomous feature is yet another arrow in the bulging quiver of Tesla Motors, building on electric technology which is comfortably the most practical and painless of anything on the market. The interior is excellently appointed, even though the seats are a little flat, there are no overhead grab rails and there is a dearth of small item storage.

The autonomous experience concludes with the Model S parallel parking by itself. After locating a lone park, we drive up alongside the front car when a 'P' icon appears in the digital instrument cluster. We slot the vehicle into reverse and then allow it to do its thing. Unlike other self-parking systems on the market – Holden's VF Commodore is one that comes to mind – the Tesla controls the steering input as well as the accelerator, brake and transmission inputs. It even puts the vehicle into park when it is finished. The only caveat is that the space needs a car in front of it and another car behind it as a gauge.

What does require both hands and feet of the driver is the final part of our short test: making use of the newly available Ludicrous mode which is fitted as a $14,300 option on the P90D, the top-of-the-line Model S utilising a 90kWh battery upgrade.

Enabling a stifling zero to 100km/h time of just 3.0 seconds by priming the batteries and temporarily increasing the draw of current through the contactors to 1500 amps, the latest update makes the Model S we're driving the fastest on sale.

The launch to 60km/h is mesmerising. Your stomach drops and churns as the vehicle rockets out of the blocks like a rollercoaster, making full use of individual 193kW and 375kW motors – the former driving the front wheels, the latter driving the rear.

Power tapers off ever so slightly approaching 100km/h – it will complete the quarter mile in a claimed 10.9 seconds - the motors proceeding with maniacal forward surge each time you dare to stab the accelerator. The tyres feel ever-so-squirmish under the power, but even conservative drivers will feel at ease launching the electric tour de force from the blocks, time after time. That the Model S offers a 491km electric range and tops out at 250km/h only broadens the appeal, as does its well-executed steering, ride, handling and overall refinement.

The performance and autonomous technology punctuate a luxuriously-appointed vehicle that is fast gaining credence among buyers in Australia, and for good reason. A starting price of $215,937 (plus on-road costs) included, nearly everything about the very flagship Model S is bordering on ludicrous. The mind boggles at what the US company might come up with next…

Editor's note: an earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the Model S' price as $275,636.